Aaaahhhhhrrrggg! So my new kitchen is almost done but we need to choose paint colors. The kitchen and dining areas are now more combined and open, kind of like an eat-in kitchen.

I want something warm and inviting, but not dark. The style is Old World/Tuscan Villa kitchen. I'll try to post a pic but the colors probably won't come out well. So I'll link the cabinet and countertop site's color samples too.

So, should I choose a similar color (warm neutral color but not yellow) or a complementary color (warm with yellow tones)?????

I plan to have some purple (grape) accents. The ceiling is only 8' so should I paint it a shade lighter than the walls? Or the same? What about the trim? I wish I knew someone here to help choose these colors.

OK, you can start with the links. I'll work on getting a picture but there aren't any overhead lights installed yet.

I guess a warm white then? Or whatever tone I use as trim (warm or cool)?

I don't agree with what they say. I've seen many low ceilings painted with colors, and it always looks bad.

My house is older and has all 8 foot ceilings and every room seems to have a different trim/ceiling white. As soon as we moved in, I went and chose a white that I will be using for all ceilings and trim as we go through and paint each room. It's a neutral white, neither warm nor cool, so it goes with any color in any room, and gives a sense of continuity from room to room.

Well, I haven't had this problem before as this is the first house we get to choose paint in. We rented while dh was in the service, so we didn't do the painting. And this house actually has acoustic on all the ceilings (except bathrooms). The kitchen half had it but not the dining (yes, there was a line down part of the middle) but now we opened it up more by taking out a cabinet "wall" that ran floor to ceiling (divided all but walkway). So we scraped off the acoustic and had the ceiling retextured totally flat, from kitchen to dining nook.

So, this is all a bit much for me right now. I have some ideas but I don't want to screw it up! And dh is basically pretty colorblind so he's no help in this.

First of all, let me say that I love the cabinet choice. I love the look of the wainscotting! And the counters are very lovely, too. The kitchen will look wonderful when the project is complete.

That said, I used to be a kitchen designer and one of the most difficult parts of the remodel for most clients was deciding on paint. Personally, I would add some color. Not a bright color, but I think since the counter and backsplash is neutral, if you add a neutral color to the walls, it will all sort of blend in, where as I would like the counters and backsplash to "pop." For an old world/tuscan feel, I would think a soft orangey/yellow. I'm thinking of that warm tile that you see throughout Tuscany... but brought down a few shades lighter.

I would go to a paint store and ask if you could borrow a sample ring. Most places will allow you to take it home for a few days. Also, most paint stores/hardware stores are now selling smaller portions of paint so that you can "try" different colors out without costing a fortune.

The Shewin Williams website is quite neat. You can check out different colors and "paint" rooms with it to see how they look. I like Anjou Pear. The hardest part of choosing a yellow color, though... is that you don't want it to look too green or too peach. You're probably thinking how a yellow can look green, but believe me, it can.

Also, I like the look of colored ceilings as long as the walls are painted a color and not a white. I sometimes think the starkness of a white ceiling can make a room "shrink" with a low ceiling, depending on the color of the walls.

Good luck!!!!

You are sunlight and I moon Joined by the Gods of fortune Midnight and high noon Sharing the sky We have been blessedYou and I -- Miss Saigon

... That said, I used to be a kitchen designer and one of the most difficult parts of the remodel for most clients was deciding on paint. Personally, I would add some color. Not a bright color, but I think since the counter and backsplash is neutral, if you add a neutral color to the walls, it will all sort of blend in, where as I would like the counters and backsplash to "pop." For an old world/tuscan feel, I would think a soft orangey/yellow. I'm thinking of that warm tile that you see throughout Tuscany... but brought down a few shades lighter.

Originally Posted by CurlOnWheels

That's exactly what the guy at Behr said when I called last night! He suggested a warm yellow neutral or pastel to make the counters and backsplash pop too!

Can I hire you and fly you out to help me choose paint?!

I'll check out the serwin williams site now. I've been playing on Behr, and the colors look ok, but when you go to "paint the room" all the beige/neutrals turn green and I can't get a feel for the colors.

OMG. The anjou pear (onscreen) looks very close to the carpet color in the adjacent living room (and all upstairs). Wow. Does that matter? I like the color, maybe a little lighter? The rooms aren't very large, it won't make it too dark?

That color also looks very close to the Behr spiced beige (looks nothing like the swatch online) but I have the chip. That's one of the colors the guy recommended.

What's the general rule on wall paint color? Does it usually appear lighter or darker when you do the whole room? As in, when we chose carpets, they said when it's actually in that it will appear 20% lighter than the sample because of the size, lighting, whatever.

And what about trim color? And a ceiling color if I go with something like the anjou pear?

I forgot to mention that I absolutely love the farmer's sink and hardware that you have chosen. Very beautiful.

For paint, I would be hesitant of any reds and terracottas because of the red in the cabinetry. I was thinking terracotta when I mentioned the tiles... but thinking more in the yellow family then the red. I do like the Tigerseye SW color -- I have had a client use that with cherry cabinets and it looks gorgeous.

Curlilocks, I would personally stay away from purples for too many accessories because purples can be a strange color. Use too much and it can get shocking. Go to the SW site and this time, use "bathroom" and pick the first one. I know -- you're painting a kitchen, but the wall and accent colors are more noticable in this setting. I think Lavish Lavendar looks too little-girly. Same with Vigorous Violet. I would think a deeper purple -- Concord Grape or Expressive Plum. I would also use more greens from the grape vines and leaves to accent then purple. Purple is too obvious when it's about a grape theme because grapes are purple. I'm not saying NO purple -- just limit it to a few pieces, maybe a purple vase and another purple piece.

Also, I don't care for the top of the valance with the grapes around the rod. What about a roman shade or a cellular shade with grapevine around the valance?

I remember HGTV's Room by Room did a Grape Themed Kitchen a few years ago. Maybe that will give you some more inspiration.

You are sunlight and I moon Joined by the Gods of fortune Midnight and high noon Sharing the sky We have been blessedYou and I -- Miss Saigon

Ok, I pulled out the kitchen towels, etc and most of them are more like Fabulous Grape, Burgundy, more of the deeper reds, not really much purple.

I like the Tigereye too. It looks like a deeper orange than the golder Anjou Pear. But I like them both. I actually painted the little bathroom scene with one wall of each and like it.

I do have to say that there *will* be grapes going in the kitchen. I already have all the stuff from my last kitchen, including italian ceramic fruit bowl and spoon holder, etc but they are the burgundy tones mostly. I guess I want a tuscan/italian *vineyard* theme! And I do have a grapevine that I usually hang over a window or archway.

I've always had a white kitchen so the grapes added color and didn't clash with anything. I guess I need to find a color that will work with it because I can't give up the grapes. :P

I like the valances because they remind me of an italian cafe or something but I guess I could live without them (the same valance is lying on the counter in my kitchen pic).

I agree that a warmish yellow should be used for the walls, and I also second using more green than purple for accents. At work (an architecture office) we often use green along with cherry cabinetry since they complement each other nicely.

Don't give up the grapes! I have seen many kitchens that use the grape theme and it always looks nice. The one thing about a themed room, though, is that you don't want it to become too theme-y. You have just done a beautiful kitchen remodel -- don't overclutter the space with accessories to bring out a theme. I've seen this done time and time again and it makes my head hurt!

I like the valances, I just don't care for the grapes on the top that go over the valance rod.

And we have friends who had a room with a yellow walls and one orange accent wall and I loved it. That's why I like playing around on that site. It gives you a lot of options to try out!

You are sunlight and I moon Joined by the Gods of fortune Midnight and high noon Sharing the sky We have been blessedYou and I -- Miss Saigon

Don't give up the grapes! I have seen many kitchens that use the grape theme and it always looks nice. The one thing about a themed room, though, is that you don't want it to become too theme-y. You have just done a beautiful kitchen remodel -- don't overclutter the space with accessories to bring out a theme. I've seen this done time and time again and it makes my head hurt!

I like the valances, I just don't care for the grapes on the top that go over the valance rod.

And we have friends who had a room with a yellow walls and one orange accent wall and I loved it. That's why I like playing around on that site. It gives you a lot of options to try out!

Originally Posted by CurlOnWheels

I know what you mean about going overboard on the grapes. Believe me, the whole reason to redo the kitchen was so I *won't* have clutter anymore (hidden places for everything now!). I'll curb myself on the decor.

So, the valances are ok with the grapes within the panel, just not the ones on the tabs. It looks like they can be removed, they're just stitched on. Would that work with maybe 2" faux wood blinds for the dining side? I don't know about the kitchen garden window over the sink, but I'd like something to be able to close/tilt for the strong morning sun that comes in a bleaches out the new cabinets (you could really tell on the old ones when we tore out). And what color blinds if I do?

So, if I go with something similar to the Anjou Pear, what would you suggest for the ceiling?? Trim-- bright white?

And does it matter if the wall color is similar to the carpeting that is adjoining and will meet on the one wall? Or go more yellow? Lucent yellow?

I'm having fun on the SW site. I'm liking the Anjou Pear on the walls with Leap Frog accents (rug and chairs in the pic). I actually think most of my grape-y stuff has lots of greens and golds to it (mostly leaves with grapes as an accent).